The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

You have everyone of your < facing in the wrong direction. Every single one.

I believe you are mistaken

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i definitely agree that Zodiac is better. at least to me (and you). Gone Baby Gone was also very good, but i think i could watch NCFOM more often, which may bump it ahead for me. also, TWBB is ahead of NCFOM as well. no idea where Jesse James and Michael Clayton would be - two more films i love.

None of them are movies I'd watch very often...with Jesse James being on my one and done collection.

Actually...how often I'd watch them is probably about the same order I rank them, with NCFOM and Gone Baby Gone possibly swapped around.

ugh. i don't think i can make lists anymore

What?! You were once the LIST MASTER!

for me, for now, Armageddon stays #1, followed closely by The Island. then, it's quite the drop off to Transformers, then another big drop off to The Rock. then another HUGE drop off to Bad Boys. and then a cliff the height of the Grand Canyon to Revenge of the Fallen

haven't seen Pearl Harbor or Bad Boys II yet. i think that's all of his films then... right?

I've always enjoyed Armageddon since that first time I watched it on a VHS tape until I watched it on FX several months ago. I went a long time without watching it and forgot how much I did enjoy it. Also, I LOVE the Aerosmith song from it.

For me it is (and this changes on occasion):

Transformers - 4.5
The Island - 4.5
Armageddon - 4.5
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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - 3.5 (There are lots of problems, but changing just a select few could boost it as high as a 4 for me)
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Bad Boys II - 3.5 (one and done list...originally had it at a 4, but changed it)
The Rock - 3.5
Bad Boys - 3 (one and done list)
Pearl Harbor - 3 (Attack sequences = 5/5; everything else = 2/5)


It's been a while since I scored Pearl Harbor, so my numbers (besides the attack parts) could be off from what I originally wrote.

agreed. doesn't feel anything like a Bay film. maybe the slick cuts and massive amounts of browns and shiny oranges, but nothing else says "HEY! THIS IS A MICHAEL BAY FILM!"

When the

[Show spoiler]big letter fell of the building

, then it's like, "Oh, okay, I know who made this!"

BY MILES AND MILES! no one else comes close. makes her much more attractive as well that she can actually act. unlike those pesky girls Bay insists on adding to those low budget robot movies he makes

i haven't looked it up or anything, and i'm sure in at least one film he does, but i wonder if he

[Show spoiler]ever lives to the end of a film he's been in?

since he's ALWAYS the bad guy

He doesn't

[Show spoiler]die

in National Treasure...but he

[Show spoiler]went to jail

, which is the Disney equivalent

yep and JJ Abrams also contributes of course to those films and the same shows and wrote the screenplay for Armageddon. found that to be very neat when i learned that a few years ago

Wait...JJ wrote Armageddon??

right on! looks and sounds awesome. you have a lot to look forward to.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Wait...JJ wrote Armageddon??

yep. one of two people who wrote the screenplay and he was also producer on it

Originally Posted by Steve46

Oops, I hadn't seen that film for years and mixed him up with Brendan Gleason

that's what i thought as soon as i saw that guys picture!

[Diesel]

If Michael Bay was the other writer, I can just imagine the script.


-explosion-

-lens flare-

-hero shot!-

-lens flare-

-BIGGER EXPLOSION-

-musical montage-

-credits-

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Foggy

You've just reminded me that we started watching The Descent in one of my classes, should be able to give you a full review tomorrow if we finish it Scary stuff

The Descent scared the crap out of me!!

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I saw Super 8 last night.

It was really fun.

Cool story.

The kids were mostly very good actors.

Some sappy/cheesey/Spielbergish moments that added to the film IMO.

Audio was insane.

Pretty cool monster.

4/5

I cant wait to see this. Just gonna wait for Blu Release, cost toooooo much for the theaters.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Diesel

If Michael Bay was the other writer, I can just imagine the script.


-explosion-

-lens flare-

-hero shot!-

-lens flare-

-BIGGER EXPLOSION-

-musical montage-

-credits-

LMAO, wait you forgot the insane camera spinning on the main character(s).

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

LMAO, wait you forgot the insane camera spinning on the main character(s).

That's the hero shot

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Diesel

That's the hero shot

gotcha lol.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

gotcha lol.

I make sure to look for that shot in every Michael Bay movie.


The best one is the one in Transformers when Optimus rolls out onto the street and transforms

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

The Island

[Show spoiler]
130 minutes

Year: 2005
Director: Michael Bay
Writers: Caspian Tredwell, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Clark Duncan

Some people will always dismiss Michael Bay as being a director who makes films with no substance. Just a lucky man who makes big bucks with over the top explosions, attractive women who can’t act, and a barely passable story for all his flicks. Well, chances are 99% of those people who rip apart every Bay film couldn’t do half of what he does, or have an eye for exciting, ridiculous stunts like he does. He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the man knows how to make exciting, fun films.

Sadly however, his name will always be tied to Hollywood blockbusters (thanks in no large part to his Transformers trilogy *sigh*) and being someone who is all about style and no substance. And of course, there is the underhanded insult I hear far too often when someone mentions a film being to slow or boring: “what were you expecting? A Michael Bay film?” when he wasn’t even in the topic of conversation!

End of rant!

The Island is awesome. Probably my second favorite Bay film. I can say that now that I’ve watched it for the first time in years. I think it’s a good film to show Bay haters that yes, his films can have a plot. And yes, they can actually make you sit up and think. Is The Island a popcorn flick? Very much so. But is it big, dumb and goofy like some of his other work? Not at all. Easily his smartest film, but I’m not saying this is gonna go down as a sci-fi masterpiece or savior of intelligent film making. I just wish Bay would make more films like The Island

General plot is that humans are living in a very sterile world well into the future where there actions are closely monitored and they are taken care of indoors due to some type of outbreak and virus of sorts plagued the world. But when one citizen (Lincoln Six Echo - McGregor) begins to suspect things aren’t what they seem, he unravels a massive mystery / conspiracy about all of what’s going on. Nothing that hasn’t been done before, but The Island does it in a fun, not super serious way that is entertaining, engaging, thought provoking and coherent.

The film is slick. Super slick. Like, melted butter on your kitchen floor slick. Like getting into a bathtub with no shower stickies slick. And I love it.

The first act feels very much NOT like a Bay film. No explosions, no action, just story and character and atmosphere building. No jokes or sly humor!. Second act is where the “now this is a Michael Bay film” comments begin. Of course, completely ridiculous, absurd, unbelievable, illogical mayhem ensues, none of which of course pushes the story forward, but it’s fun as hell and looks and sounds amazing! and this is also where the classic Bay humor comes out (especially in full force in the hysterical bar scene ) and the third act also has more explosions and craziness to make up for the quiet first act.

Not the best in any genre, but one of my personal favorites.

Scarlett Johansson is as gorgeous as can be! And to think she was just 21 when she made this is astounding. Yes, Bay doesn’t ask or have a lot for his characters (especially women) to do in his films, but still, Scarlett’s role is easily his deepest and most complete for a female character and Johansson nails it.

McGregor is also very good.

Djimon is an excellent bad ass

Sean Bean was made for bad guy roles, was he not?

Steve Buscemi is fantastic in his small role, as is Michael Clark Duncan.

I think The Island also works very well because it was written by two men who would go on to have a big say in stories for Fringe and Lost (Kurtzman and Orci) so they definitely have a handle on structure and putting together a fun, easy to understand while still being deceptive in nature film.

Recommended to sci-fi, action, Bay fans and Bay haters. I’m not gonna say everyone is gonna love it, but it’s at least worth one viewing. However, for me, it will get tons of viewings since I own the blu I find it a fantastic film that looks and sounds excellent as well. Very happy purchase

PQ: 4.5/5
AQ: 4.5/5

The Film: 4.5/5

I had to give it an extra one since I really loved the movie when I finally watched it for the first time last week (which you already know).

Originally Posted by Diesel

Wait...JJ wrote Armageddon??

You can be forgiven for not knowing he was one of the two writers. I didn't realize it until last night when I was on IMDb.

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

The Descent scared the crap out of me!!

A few scenes in The Descent scared me pretty good.

I'm not a big horror fan, but I blind bought it two weeks ago since it was on sale at Best Buy for $5.99 and really liked it. I had been wanting to give it a chance for a while and was glad that I finally was able to.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by killowertz

You can be forgiven for not knowing he was one of the two writers. I didn't realize it until last night when I was on IMDb.

I think Bearcat cheated and looked it up before mentioning it



_____


I had planned to have a Bond double feature today...but I fell asleep during Casino Royale
That's the THIRD time in a row that I do that
It's always at the same point too.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I think Bearcat cheated and looked it up before mentioning it



_____


I had planned to have a Bond double feature today...but I fell asleep during Casino Royale
That's the THIRD time in a row that I do that
It's always at the same point too.

Lol, maybe, maybe not.

You really need to get more sleep. There's now way you should be falling asleep three times in a row during Casino Royale. If you fall asleep a fourth time, then you should ban yourself for a week (if that was possible).

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Lol, maybe, maybe not.

You really need to get more sleep. There's now way you should be falling asleep three times in a row during Casino Royale. If you fall asleep a fourth time, then you should ban yourself for a week (if that was possible).

Surprisingly enough, I turned the TV on tonight and it was playing on Syfy (what the hell?) and I watched the ending


Also, Bearcat, I must retract my previous statement:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

BY MILES AND MILES! no one else comes close. makes her much more attractive as well that she can actually act. unlike those pesky girls Bay insists on adding to those low budget robot movies he makes

I completely forgot that Kate Beckinsale was in Pearl Harbor...which, by default makes her Michael Bay's most attractive leading lady

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I make sure to look for that shot in every Michael Bay movie.


The best one is the one in Transformers when Optimus rolls out onto the street and transforms

Yeah that camera was about to spin right off its axel lol. But it was nice though. I think that move got real popular after Bad Boys II.

[iam1bearcat]

Shaun of the Dead

94 minutes

Year: 2004
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Written by: Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis & Dylan Moran

Very funny.

A great comedy. A great spoof horror film. Great characters. Terrifically clever writing and a film that holds up very well to repeat viewings. If the people who created the Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans and Scary Movie film “franchises” had one fourth the talent of the crew that made Shaun of the Dead they would be rolling in millions. But, they don’t have any talent and are not rolling in millions. Shucks.

Odd though: I don’t really like Hot Fuzz, yet it’s essentially the same people and type of film, just for action films, not horror. Weird.

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 4.5/5

The Film: 4/5

[Romulus]

Ha, I'm the complete opposite. Loved Hot Fuzz (saw in theaters like 3 or 4 times) and thought Shaun of the Dead was just all right.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Ha, I'm the complete opposite. Loved Hot Fuzz (saw in theaters like 3 or 4 times) and thought Shaun of the Dead was just all right.

Me too. Hot Fuzz is badass.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Ha, I'm the complete opposite. Loved Hot Fuzz (saw in theaters like 3 or 4 times) and thought Shaun of the Dead was just all right.

Originally Posted by jvince

Me too. Hot Fuzz is badass.

weird! i like a lot of moments in Hot Fuzz, but overall it just feels like overkill and lasts way too long. also doesn't help i'm not a huge action fan but am a huge horror fan, so that's probably why i love Shaun of the Dead and not real big on Hot Fuzz.

would like to see them do another film like this. have little interest in... Paul...

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I think Bearcat cheated and looked it up before mentioning it

nope, no cheating i noticed it when i watched it a few months ago. i was like, "hey, i know that name..."

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Surprisingly enough, I turned the TV on tonight and it was playing on Syfy (what the hell?) and I watched the ending

It wouldn't be the first movie that wasn't science fiction to be on Syfy. I remember seeing The Devil's Advocate on there during commercials for the series finale of V.

Anyways, good job for finally finishing Casino Royale again. Now, if you watch it again, try to actually stay awake for the whole thing next time.